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Technical Standards

Carle Illinois College of Medicine policy on technical standards required for matriculation, progression and graduation

Program Completion

The M.D. degree is a broad undifferentiated degree attesting to general knowledge in medicine and the basic skills required for the practice of medicine. Essential abilities and characteristics required for completion of the M.D. degree consist of certain minimum physical and cognitive abilities and sufficient mental and emotional stability to assure that candidates for admission, promotion, and graduation are able to complete the entire course of study and participate fully in all aspects of medical training with reasonable accommodations if required. The Carle Illinois College of Medicine intends for its graduates to become competent and compassionate physicians who are capable of pursuing and completing graduate medical education, passing licensing exams and obtaining and maintaining medical licensure. The avowed intention of an individual student to practice only a narrow part of clinical medicine, or to pursue a non-clinical career, does not alter the requirement that all medical students take and achieve competence in the full curriculum required by the faculty. The term “candidate” used below means candidates for admission to medical school as well as enrolled medical students who are candidates for promotion and graduation.

The Carle Illinois College of Medicine has an ethical responsibility for the safety of patients with whom students and graduates will come in contact. Although students learn and work under the supervision of the faculty, students interact with patients throughout their medical school education. Patient safety and well-being are therefore major factors in establishing requirements involving the physical, cognitive, and emotional abilities of candidates for admission, promotion, and graduation. The essential abilities and characteristics described herein are also referred to as technical (or non-academic) standards. They are described below in several broad categories including: observation; communication; motor function; intellectual-conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities; and social and behavioral skills. In addition to these, candidates must have the physical stamina and emotional stability to function in a competent manner in settings that may involve heavy workloads and stressful situations. Individuals who constitute a direct threat to the health and safety of others or are currently impaired by alcohol or other substance abuse are not suitable candidates for admission, promotion or graduation.

Equal Access to the College of Medicine’s Educational Program

The Carle Illinois College of Medicine does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities who apply for admission to the M.D. degree program or who are enrolled as medical students. Otherwise qualified individuals shall not be excluded from admission or participation in the college’s educational programs and activities solely by reason of their disability or medical condition. The college provides reasonable accommodation in its academic programs to qualified individuals with disabilities. A reasonable accommodation is one that does not require substantial program modification or lower academic standards. Documented learning disabilities are included under this policy.

Should a candidate have or develop a condition that would place patients or others at risk or that would jeopardize his or her ability to complete medical student education and pursue residency training and licensure, the candidate may be denied admission or may be dismissed from school. Should a candidate have or develop a disability that poses a significant risk to health and safety of patients, self, or others that cannot be eliminated with a reasonable accommodation, the candidate may be denied admission or may be dismissed from school.

It is the responsibility of a student with a disability, or a student who develops a disability, and who wants an accommodation to notify the Associate Dean for Student Affairs of the disability, in writing, and to provide adequate documentation of the general nature and extent of the disability and the functional limitations to be accommodated. A student who has or develops any chronic disease or condition will be expected to seek and continue in the care of a qualified healthcare provider.

The Dean’s office will work in conjunction with Office of Students Affairs in evaluating and responding to all requests. In the event that additional documentation is required regarding the nature and extent of a disability, the college may require that a student undergo an evaluation by experts for purposes of determining whether the candidate, with or without accommodation, is able to meet these technical standards.

Carle Illinois College of Medicine Technical Standards

OBSERVATION:

Candidates must be able to observe demonstrations and participate in experiments of science, including but not limited to such things as dissection of cadavers; examination of specimens in anatomy, pathology, and neuroanatomy laboratories; and microscopic study of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states. Candidates must be able to accurately observe patients and assess findings. They must be able to obtain a medical history and perform a complete physical examination in order to integrate findings based on these observations and to develop an appropriate diagnostic and treatment plan. These skills require the functional use of vision, hearing, and touch.

COMMUNICATION:

Candidates must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with patients, their families, and members of the health care team. They must be able to obtain a medical history in a timely fashion, interpret non-verbal aspects of communication, and establish therapeutic relationships with patients. Candidates must be able to record information accurately and clearly, and communicate effectively in English with other health care professionals in a variety of patient settings.

MOTOR FUNCTION:

Candidates must possess the capacity to perform physical examinations and diagnostic maneuvers. They must be able to respond to emergency situations in a timely manner and provide general and emergency care. Such activities require physical mobility, coordination of both gross and fine motor neuromuscular function, and balance and equilibrium. They must be able to adhere to universal precaution measures, meet safety standards applicable to inpatient and outpatient settings, and engage in other clinical activities.

INTELLECTUAL, CONCEPTUAL, INTEGRATIVE, AND QUANTITATIVE ABILITIES:

Candidates must have sufficient cognitive (mental) abilities and effective learning techniques to assimilate the detailed and complex information presented in the medical student curriculum. They must be able to learn through a variety of modalities including, but not limited to: classroom instruction; small group, team and collaborative activities; individual study; preparation and presentation of reports; and use of computer and information technology. Candidates must be able to memorize, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, synthesize, and transmit information by multiple mechanisms. They must recognize and draw conclusions about three-dimensional spatial relationships and logical sequential relationships among events. They must be able to formulate and test hypotheses that enable effective and timely problem-solving in a variety of settings.

BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES:

Candidates must demonstrate the maturity and emotional stability required for full use of their intellectual abilities. They must accept responsibility for learning, exercising good judgment, and promptly completing all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients. They must understand the legal and ethical aspects of the practice of medicine and function within both the law and ethical standards of the medical profession. Candidates must be able to interact with patients, their families, and health care personnel in a courteous, professional, and respectful manner. They must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and long work hours, to function effectively under stress, and display flexibility and adaptability to changing environments. Candidates must be capable of regular, reliable and punctual attendance at classes, as well as their clinical responsibilities. They must be able to contribute to collaborative, constructive learning environments; accept constructive feedback from others; and take personal responsibility for making appropriate positive changes.

ETHICAL AND LEGAL STANDARDS:

Candidates must meet the legal standards to be licensed to practice medicine in the State of Illinois. As such, candidates for admission must acknowledge and provide written explanation of any felony or misdemeanor offense(s), or any action taken against them by another educational institution prior to matriculation at the CI COM. In addition, should the student be convicted of any felony or misdemeanor offense(s) while in medical school, they agree to immediately notify the Associate Dean for Student Affairs as to the nature of the conviction. Felony conviction or failure to disclose prior or new offenses can lead to disciplinary action by the school that may include dismissal.

ABILITY TO MEET THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE’S TECHNICAL STANDARDS:

The Carle Illinois College of Medicine intends for its students and graduates to become competent and compassionate physicians who are capable of entering residency training (graduate medical education) and meeting all requirements for medical licensure. The Office of Student Affairs will be responsible for working with all matriculated students to assist them in their academic studies and goal of graduation. Information on advising services available to support these students is available from the Carle Illinois Office of Student Affairs and on the college website. The college will also ensure that students needing counseling and or psychological support are provided those services. Students may go directly to the campus Counseling Center or consult the Office of Student Affairs. Finally, each student must recognize what is required for advancement and graduation, as described in the university’s Academic Catalog and on the college website. Throughout a medical student’s career in the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the faculty and staff of the Office of Student Affairs will ensure that each student is provided the resources and support needed to be successful and complete their medical training.